Minor league notebook: Tropeano’s fastball is heating up

<center><b>May 2: Astros 8, Mets 1</b></center>Jed Lowrie (4) welcomes teammate Chris Johnson (23) at home plate after Johnson hit a three-run home run against the New York Mets in the second inning at Minute Maid Park. less

<center><b>May 2: Astros 8, Mets 1</b></center>Jed Lowrie (4) welcomes teammate Chris Johnson (23) at home plate after Johnson hit a three-run home run against the New York Mets in the second inning at Minute ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Chris Johnson singles to left field in the fifth inning for one of his four hits. He finished with two homers and six RBIs.

Chris Johnson singles to left field in the fifth inning for one of his four hits. He finished with two homers and six RBIs.

Photo: Bob Levey / Getty Images

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New York Mets' Ruben Tejada looks toward the umpire after being tagged out at third base trying to stretch a double in the first inning.

New York Mets' Ruben Tejada looks toward the umpire after being tagged out at third base trying to stretch a double in the first inning.

Photo: Associated Press

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Chris Johnson watches the ball leave the park for his second home run of the game.

Chris Johnson watches the ball leave the park for his second home run of the game.

Photo: Bob Levey / Getty Images

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Carlos Lee scores in the fifth inning on a double by Brian Bogusevic.

Carlos Lee scores in the fifth inning on a double by Brian Bogusevic.

Photo: Bob Levey / Getty Images

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Wandy Rodriguez improved to 3-2 with the win. He went seven innings, striking out five and scattering six hits while lowering his ERA to 1.64.

Wandy Rodriguez improved to 3-2 with the win. He went seven innings, striking out five and scattering six hits while lowering his ERA to 1.64.

Photo: Bob Levey / Getty Images

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Kirk Nieuwenhuis of the New York Mets walks back to the dugout after striking out in the fourth inning.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis of the New York Mets walks back to the dugout after striking out in the fourth inning.

Astros' Brian Bogusevic is caught for an out while trying to steal second base.

Astros' Brian Bogusevic is caught for an out while trying to steal second base.

Photo: Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle

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Astros' J.A. Happ delivers a pitch.

Astros' J.A. Happ delivers a pitch.

Photo: Pat Sullivan / Associated Press

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Astros' Jed Lowrie passes third base coach Dave Clark as he rounds the bases on a two-run home run.

Astros' Jed Lowrie passes third base coach Dave Clark as he rounds the bases on a two-run home run.

Photo: Pat Sullivan / Associated Press

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Matt Downs of the Houston Astros slides safely into second ahead of the tag by Justin Turner.

Matt Downs of the Houston Astros slides safely into second ahead of the tag by Justin Turner.

Photo: George Bridges / McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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<B><Center>April 30: Astros 4, Mets 3</b></center> Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer makes it safely to third base on an error after breaking up a no-hit bid by Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) during the sixth inning. less

<B><Center>April 30: Astros 4, Mets 3</b></center> Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer makes it safely to third base on an error after breaking up a no-hit bid by Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) during the ... more

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer and right fielder Brian Bogusevic celebrate their win over the Mets after the ninth inning.

Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer and right fielder Brian Bogusevic celebrate their win over the Mets after the ninth inning.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris reacts during the seventh inning as the bases were loaded.

Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris reacts during the seventh inning as the bases were loaded.

Astros first baseman Matt Downs (16) blows a bubble during the first inning.

Astros first baseman Matt Downs (16) blows a bubble during the first inning.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Astros second baseman Jose Altuve makes the throw to first on a grounder hit by Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy during the first inning.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve makes the throw to first on a grounder hit by Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy during the first inning.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer heads back to the dugout after striking out during the first inning.

Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer heads back to the dugout after striking out during the first inning.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey pitches during the first inning.

Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey pitches during the first inning.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Former Astro Richard Hidalgo throws out the first pitch to Javier Brackamonte.

Former Astro Richard Hidalgo throws out the first pitch to Javier Brackamonte.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Former Astro Richard Hidalgo hugs Javier Brackamonte after throwing out the first pitch.

Former Astro Richard Hidalgo hugs Javier Brackamonte after throwing out the first pitch.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Astros left fielder Travis Buck (6) catches a ball against the wall hit by Mets center fielder Andres Torres (56) as center fielder Jordan Schafer (1) covers on the play during the fifth inning.

Astros left fielder Travis Buck (6) catches a ball against the wall hit by Mets center fielder Andres Torres (56) as center fielder Jordan Schafer (1) covers on the play during the fifth inning.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer is congratulated by third base coach Dave Clark (35) after he made it safely to third base on an error after breaking up a no-hit bit by Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey during the sixth inning. less

Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer is congratulated by third base coach Dave Clark (35) after he made it safely to third base on an error after breaking up a no-hit bit by Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey during the ... more

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer comes into the dugout on an RBI single by left fielder Travis Buck during the sixth inning.

Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer comes into the dugout on an RBI single by left fielder Travis Buck during the sixth inning.

Astros second baseman Matt Downs celebrates with third base coach Dave Clark (35) after his two-run home run during the sixth inning.

Astros second baseman Matt Downs celebrates with third base coach Dave Clark (35) after his two-run home run during the sixth inning.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Astros second baseman Matt Downs celebrates with third baseman Chris Johnson (23) after his two-run home run during the sixth inning.

Astros second baseman Matt Downs celebrates with third baseman Chris Johnson (23) after his two-run home run during the sixth inning.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

Minor league notebook: Tropeano's fastball is heating up

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As if trying to go over the top in showing that the 2.36 ERA from his professional debut was not a fluke, Astros starting pitching prospect Nick Tropeano has put up more of the same at Class A Lexington. Exactly the same.

He’s been the brightest part of a Lexington pitching staff that has put up big strikeout numbers but otherwise struggled to prevent runs. The Astros’ fifth-round pick out of SUNY Stony Brook on Long Island has a 2.36 ERA in five appearances. He began the year by allowing just one run in his first 17 innings.

Exactly the same ERA, but not exactly the same pitcher.

Tropeano, who always had a good changeup and breaking ball to complement his fastball, has gained a few miles per hour. What was 89-92, he said, has turned into consistency in the 90s up to 94.

“It was just hard work over the offseason to get into a good workout regimen,” said Tropeano, who added he didn’t make any significant change to his mechanics.

With an aggressive approach — “I’m getting ahead in counts trying to get two strikes in the first three pitches” — his strikeout numbers have risen from 10.6 per 9 to an even more outstanding 11.3 despite a couple of rough outings in his last two starts.

Prospects making good

It was a notable week for the Astros’ consensus top hitting and pitching prospects — teammates at Class AA Corpus Christi.

First baseman Jon Singleton, who had been hitting well all season, turned on the power, tripling his home run total for the year in one game April 24. He went 4-for-4 with two home runs and is now hitting .350 with a .600 on-base percentage.

His teammate Jarred Cosart, also acquired in the Hunter Pence trade, is two starts into his return from needing 16 days off with a pesky blister problem. Cosart returned with five shutout innings April 22 with no walks, but he walked six in a start five days later.

Skeeters selling out

The Sugar Land Skeeters, despite losing the season opener, still enjoyed a triumphant first weekend when they won the next three games to take a four-game series over the York Revolution.

They held York to five runs over the four games. Meanwhile, former Astros minor leaguer Jimmy Van Ostrand and outfielder Jason Botts are leading the offense, combining to reach base in 14 of 31 plate appearances.

While Constellation Field seats approximately 6,000, standing-room-only crowds put each of the four games’ attendance above 7,000. The average was 7,353, with a peak of 7,727 on Friday.

The Skeeters, who travel commercial airliners in a league that plays exclusively in the mid-Atlantic except for their own ballpark, now embark on one of the long road trips that will become a habit. Tonight begins a stretch of 10 games in 10 days through Southern Maryland, Lancaster, Pa. and Somerset, N.J.